"We're doomed! We're doomed!"
Daphne Greengrass regretted waking up so early. She felt Marcus Flint was truly insane. Didn't this guy know anything about Little Grindelwald and that boy's relationship?
"You..."
Ian turned around, his face icy.
"Is this the etiquette of pure-blood nobles? Attacking without provocation?" He held his wand, looking calmly at Marcus Flint, who seemed incredulous.
"I need you to prove my innocence. It was your evil Death Eater uncle who did the killing!" Marcus Flint raised his hand, about to cast a spell.
"Seal Tongue and Throat."
Ian cast his spell first.
The spell hit its mark.
Marcus Flint's tongue was fixed to the roof of his mouth, he couldn't speak, let alone chant a spell. He furiously roared from his throat.
He began seeking help with his eyes.
Some of his close friends pulled out their wands, William and Michael hurriedly wanted to rush over, but they hadn't learned any useful spells to cast.
"Whew!"
Suddenly.
A surge of raging fire erupted on the floor of the corridor, the flames shooting skyward like an angry beast, engulfing the surrounding Slytherin students.
The fire twisted, waves of heat making the air warp and transform, upper-year students tried to pull out their wands but found Ian turning his cold gaze upon them.
The flames were inches from these people, as if ready to leap upon them at any moment — the wise chose to drop their wands, for Slytherin students understood situational awareness better than anyone.
"Impossible!"
"A fire spell? No! How could a fire spell be so terrifying!"
"He's going to kill us all!"
Everyone felt chills up their spines, the heat waves licked at them, threatening to burn at any moment. They couldn't fathom why a little wizard could annihilate them all.
"I knew it!"
Among the terrified crowd, only Daphne Greengrass was unsurprised. She didn't make a move to draw a wand; when her eyes met Ian's cold gaze, she immediately raised her hands in surrender, then crouched and hugged her head.
"Ian's awesome!"
William's eyes were filled with frenzy.
Michael stood next to him, equally stunned.
They stood outside the ring of fire, a stark contrast to Marcus Flint, whose mouth was sealed. Marcus Flint's eyes were filled with terror.
He held his wand.
But couldn't cast a spell.
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't produce magic.
"I've put up with you for a long time. You were under the Imperio, that's understandable... But what does it have to do with me? I don't expect you to respect me, but at least you should respect your professor!" Ian raised his wand with a sudden motion.
Then.
Marcus Flint, who was attempting silent spellcasting, hunched over. He felt as if there was a mountain on his back, making it impossible to stand straight.
"Before a duel, bow, Mr. Flint. It's surprising that someone of your status needs me to teach you this rule. Didn't your family teach you what is called demeanor?"
Ian spoke warmly as he bowed.
"See, like this."
He made a demonstration.
When he stood up.
Marcus Flint felt the mountain on his back disappear, and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth returned to normal. He instinctively shouted a spell in anger.
"Expelliarmus!"
Perhaps he hadn't truly learned any powerful magic, Marcus Flint's Disarming Spell was easily deflected by Ian using an Iron Armor Spell, bouncing off a dull wall.
"You didn't even count down three times, tut, tut, it seems I can't be gentle with you."
Ian raised his hand.
The wand emitted green light.
"Avada Kedavra!"
His voice not only frightened Marcus Flint, causing his soul to nearly flee, but his wand trembled and dropped to the ground, even those trapped in the flames and his two roommates were filled with fear.
The green light.
Illuminated the entire corridor.
Struck Marcus Flint's chest.
"Unforgivable Curse!!!" Marcus Flint was terrified to the utmost, his face pale, his soul seemed half-gone as he collapsed on the floor, shivering all over.
For a while.
He finally realized he hadn't been torn apart, and warm water still poured out from his pants.
"Truly boring, can't even tell the difference between spells, yet dare to fight me?" Ian flicked his wand, and Marcus Flint's wand, which had fallen to the ground, flew back into Flint's hand.
"Go on, believe me, the next spell, I won't let you down again." Ian's soft-spoken voice made Marcus Flint lose any courage to hold his wand.
Plop.
The wand rolled on the ground.
Marcus Flint lost his courage as a wizard.
He understood Daphne Greengrass and chose to join her, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
"Take away your leader." Ian withdrew the raging flames from the ground, calmly looking at the group of frightened wizards, their faces pale, not daring to meet his gaze.
"I assume no senior students will go to the professor to complain, right?" Ian's gentle words didn't relax anyone; the freed young wizards were even more tense.
But.
Ian quickly realized.
These people weren't looking at him, but somewhere behind him. Even William's praise and flattery had gone silent without him realizing.
Perhaps.
Marcus Flint's fainting held some tactical significance.
Because.
"Mr. Prince, I think there will be no need for them to notify, as I have been watching for quite some time." The voice belonged to Albus Dumbledore.
Close at hand.